Russian Imperialism and Communism Outcome: The Russian Revolution

The Russian Revolution Setting the Stage: Ripe for Revolution Cruel and oppressive rule of 19th Century czars caused social unrest 1881, reformist Czar Alexander II assassinated by upset revolutionaries

Czar Alexander III

The Russian Revolution Czars Resist Change Alexander III halted all reforms and clung to autocracy (total control) Anyone who questioned the czar, worshipped outside of Russian Orthodox Church, or spoke another language was labeled dangerous Alexander censored published materials, teachers, and students Forbade minority languages, targeted the Jews Died of kidney inflammation in 1894, son Nicholas II takes over

Czar nicholas II

The Russian Revolution Russia Industrializes Number of factories doubled between 1863 and 1900; still behind Europe Industrialization brought new problems: high taxes, bad working conditions, low wages, & child labor Trade unions outlawed; unhappy workers organized strikes Marxist (those who followed ideas of Karl Marx) revolutionaries believed: The industrial class would overthrow the czar and form a “dictatorship of the proletariat” Proletariat: the workers The proletariat would rule the country Marxists split into two groups: Mensheviks and Bolsheviks

The Russian Revolution Three Crises Show Czar’s Weaknesses Russo-Japanese War (Cost lives & $$$) Bloody Sunday: The Revolution of 1905 (Failed revolution) World War I (Cost lives & $$$)

The March Revolution

The Russian Revolution The March Revolution Prices were wildly inflated Food and supplies were dwindling March of 1917, women textile workers in Petrograd led a city-wide strike In the next 5 days, shortages of bread and fuel led to riots. 200,000 workers swarmed the streets shouting “Down with the autocracy!” Rasputin, holy man who gained political power was poisoned and shot This uprising led Czar Nicholas II to abdicate his throne

The Russian Revolution The March Revolution Nicholas and his family were executed by revolutionaries a year later

The Russian Revolution The March Revolution A provisional government (temporary government) was set up Socialist revolutionaries formed soviets Soviets: local councils consisting of workers, peasants, and soldiers

Rasputin

Vladimir Lenin

The Russian Revolution The Bolshevik Revolution Vladimir Lenin returns to Russia from exile (via Germany) The provisional government topples after Bolshevik Red Guards storm Winter Palace in Petrograd (St. Petersburg)

The Russian Revolution The Bolshevik Revolution (continued…) The Bolsheviks are in power within days behind Lenin Lenin gave control of factories to the workers (Communal ownership) Lenin distributes all farmland to the peasants (Communal ownership) Civil War erupts in Russia (Bolsheviks vs. those loyal to Czar regime)

The Russian Revolution The Bolshevik Revolution (continued…) Lenin restores order and in 1922 Russia is renamed the Soviet Union Bolsheviks rename themselves the Communists